PUNJABI ANTENNA
Return of serials
Randeep Wadehra

A scene from Nikkian. . .

AT last, the music-induced monotony’s being broken by Zee Punjabi. One was pleasantly surprised to watch prime-time telecast of Dupatta – a serial that deals with the travails of a middleclass urban Punjabi family. The seemingly unalterable prejudices against daughters, the struggle of a sister to get her brother gainfully employed even as the father has given up on him, the matriarch who’s happier seeing the girls kept within the house rather than travel to distant places for education or employment. The conflict between the traditional mindset and aspirations of today’s generation has been brought into sharp relief. However, inquiries reveal that Dupatta is a repeat. Sad!

Not so sad was the telecast of the Sunny Deol-starrer Ghadar, once again on the Zee and ETC Punjabi channels. But the movie has been telecast by other channels so often that it doesn’t enthuse the viewer much.

However, as this review is being readied for filing, real good news is trickling in. Sajda – a tribute to Punjab’s legends in the field of arts and literature – will begin its telecast on Zee Punjabi from July 8 onwards.

Recently one came across a well-made video film. Written by Gurcharan Dardi, Nikkian Jindaan Vadde Sakke is a saga of sacrifice by the sons of Guru Gobind Singh, viz., Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jhujhaar Singh at Garhi Chamkaur Sahib; and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh at Sarhand. The film begins with a young NRI couple visiting Anandpur Sahib to seek divine blessings that would cure the husband of hallucinations of wars in the distant past. The young man was a Muslim fakir in his previous life and had witnessed the battle between the Sikh and Mughal forces on the banks of the Saryu river. The treachery of Gangu and Suchanand is juxtaposed with Todarmal’s devotion to the Guru, the beastliness of the Nawab of Sarhind and his Qazi is contrasted with Sher Khan’s ethical behavior. Rajeev Sharma’s screenplay has been ably directed by Gurkirtan. Manjit Singh’s camerawork is commendable. Actors like Tejinder Khera, Dardi, Tony, Ashok Bali et al have given good performances.